Exterior heat insultation cover panel

ABSTRACT

An exterior heat insulation cover panel includes a plate member installed on an outer wall surface of an exterior wall of a building to form a heat insulation air layer between the plate member and the outer wall surface and a supporter configured to support the plate member on the outer wall surface in a point contact manner.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an exterior heat insulation cover panelattached to an exterior wall of a building for heat shielding andexterior heat insulation.

BACKGROUND ART

During summer, the temperature of the surface of an exterior wall of abuilding rises extremely and sometimes reaches as high as 70° C. Suchheat passes through the wall to a room and significantly deterioratesair conditioning's cooling performance. On the other hand, duringwinter, an exterior wall of a building is exposed to cold wind, snow,and cold rain and thereby cooled. Such a cooled wall absorbs the heatinside a room and dissipates the heat to the outside, therebysignificantly deteriorating air conditioning's heating performance.Thus, changes in sunlight, wind, and rain outside a building have alarge impact on the room temperature and significantly reduce airconditioning's heating and cooling performance. Consequently, a largeamount of thermal energy is required, and wasteful use of petroleum oiland electricity is inevitable.

There have been some ideas to solve this problem such as spraying a heatinsulation material onto an exterior wall and attaching a foamed heatinsulation plate to an interior wall so as to alleviate the impact bychanges in external environments. These methods, however, can produceonly small effects because the impact received by the exterior wall fromsummer solar heat and winter wind, rain, and snow directly reaches theroom space.

Moreover, there is also a method in which exterior work is done on athick heat insulation material attached to an exterior wall. Thismethod, however, requires a very high construction cost and is notfrequently employed in general.

In the case of spraying a heat insulation material, careful surfacepreparation on the surface, or the coating surface, of the exterior wallneeds to be done with the help of a skilled artisan. There is also afear that the bonding surface may be deteriorated. Further, a largeamount of work of a skilled artisan such as a plasterer is needed, andtherefore the work cost tends to be high.

CITATION LIST Patent Literatures

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2005-232855

PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-53619

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

PTLs 1 and 2 propose solutions to the above problems. PTL 1 describes anexample of using a two-layered cover panel with furring pieces. However,not only is the panel itself very expensive, but each furring piece islarge and heat is easily dissipated from the wall through it.

PTL 2 involves forming a metal cover panel along which air can easilyflow. However, the panel is partly in contact with an exterior wall of abuilding over the entire length, and therefore the area of contact withthe exterior wall is large. This structure directly transfers thetemperature of the surface of the cover panel to the exterior wall ofthe building, which greatly lowers the heat insulation effect.

An object of the present invention is to provide an exterior heatinsulation cover panel capable of greatly improving the exterior heatinsulation performance of a building and capable of being installedeasily at a low cost within a short work period.

An exterior heat insulation cover panel in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention includes a plate member installed on an outerwall surface of an exterior wall of a building to form a heat insulationair layer between the plate member and the outer wall surface, and asupporter configured to support the plate member on the outer wallsurface in a point contact manner.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the exterior heatinsulation cover panel is supported on the outer wall surface of thebuilding in a point support manner. In this way, it is possible toprevent midsummer solar heat, midwinter wind, rain, and snow, etc. fromhaving a direct impact on the exterior wall of the building.Accordingly, the heat shielding and exterior heat insulation performanceof the building can be improved greatly. Moreover, the installingsurface to which to attach the exterior heat insulation cover panelaccording to the embodiment of the present invention does not have to bean accurately finished surface. Thus, attaching the exterior heatinsulation cover panel does not require surface preparation such asplastering involved in general exterior finishing work. Accordingly, theexterior heat insulation cover panel can be easily attached, the cost ofthe attachment work is inexpensive, and the work period can be shortenedas well. Further, the exterior heat insulation cover panel according tothe embodiment of the present invention can be attached directly to awall surface on which conventional finishing work such for example astiling has been done, and can therefore be applied to buildings alreadyconstructed. Thus, the exterior heat insulation cover panel has a widerange of application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of exterior heat insulation coverpanels according to a first embodiment of the present invention attachedto a building exterior wall.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exterior heat insulation coverpanels according to the first embodiment of the present inventionattached to the building exterior wall.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for describing a method of attaching theexterior heat insulation cover panels according to the first embodimentof the present invention to the building exterior wall.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a set of exterior heat insulationcover panels according to a second embodiment of the present inventionattached to the building exterior wall.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a set of exterior heat insulationcover panels according to a third embodiment of the present inventionattached to the building exterior wall.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a set of exterior heat insulationcover panels according to a fourth embodiment of the present inventionattached to the building exterior wall.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinbelow, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

An exterior heat insulation cover panel 1 according to a firstembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of exterior heatinsulation cover panels 1 attached to an outer wall surface Wa of abuilding exterior wall W made of concrete or wood. FIG. 2 is across-sectional view of the exterior heat insulation cover panels 1attached to the outer wall surface Wa of the building exterior wall W.FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for describing a method of attaching theexterior heat insulation cover panels 1 to the building exterior wallWa. Note that the up-down direction in FIG. 1 is the vertical direction,and FIGS. 2 and 3 are horizontal cross sections.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each exterior heat insulation cover panel 1includes a plate member 2 and a supporter 3. The plate member 2 is ametal plate and has a substantially square U-shape. As shown in FIG. 3,the plate member 2 has: an outer surface portion 2 a facing the outsideof the building when the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1 isinstalled; side surface portions 2 b, 2 b bent and continues fromopposite sides of the outer surface portion 2 a; an attachment surfaceportion 2 c further bent and continues from one of the side surfaceportions 2 b; and a back surface portion 2 d being the inner surface ofthe substantially square U-shape.

The attachment surface portion 2 c is formed in such a way as to facethe outer wall surface Wa substantially in parallel therewith when theexterior heat insulation cover panel 1 is installed. A through-holethrough which to insert a below-described screw 3 a is formed in theattachment surface portion 2 c, and the supporter 3 is provided thereon.The plate member 2 receives heat S (including heat that lowers thetemperature) of midsummer sunlight, midwinter wind, rain, and snow,etc., mainly on the outer surface portion 2 a and the side surfaceportions 2 b.

The supporter 3 includes the screw 3 a, a heat insulation member 3 bsuch as a resin ring or a metal washer (a rubber packing in thisembodiment), and a connecting fitting 3 c. The heat insulation member 3b is arranged sandwiched between the attachment surface portion 2 c andthe outer wall surface Wa and suppresses heat transfer between the platemember 2 and the outer wall surface Wa. The screw 3 a is fixed at oneend in the outer wall surface Wa while inserted in the through-hole inthe attachment surface portion 2 c and an opening in the heat insulationmember 3 b. Note that the screw 3 a may be a nail or a bolt. Theconnecting fitting 3 c has a hole. The screw 3 a is inserted in thishole, and the connecting fitting 3 c is fixed with the screw 3 a to thesurface of the attachment surface portion 2 c on the opposite side fromthe heat insulation member 3 b. The supporter 3 is provided only at onespot on one plate member 2 in a plan view. The number of supporters 3along the up-down (vertical) direction is figured out and set to anysuitable number based on strength and the like necessary for theinstallation.

As shown in FIG. 3, to attach a second exterior heat insulation coverpanel 1 next to an already installed first exterior heat insulationcover panel 1 side by side, the second exterior heat insulation coverpanel 1 is moved in the direction of an arrow in the drawing to insertone of the side surface portions 2 b of the second exterior heatinsulation cover panel 1 between one of the side surface portions 2 band the connecting fitting 3 c of the first exterior heat insulationcover panel 1. As a result, the side surface portion 2 b of the secondexterior heat insulation cover panel 1 becomes biased by the elasticityof the connecting fitting 3 c against the side surface portion 2 b ofthe first exterior heat insulation cover panel 1. Thereby, the secondexterior heat insulation cover panel 1 is connected to the firstexterior heat insulation cover panel 1.

By the above-described configuration, the supporter 3 works such thatone of the side surface portions 2 b is fixed to the side surfaceportion 2 b of the adjacent exterior heat insulation cover panel 1 andthat the attachment surface portion 2 c formed continuously from theother side surface portion 2 b is fixed to the exterior wall W with theheat insulation member 3 b therebetween. Thus, the plate member 2 issupported on the exterior wall W in a point contact manner. The contactmentioned here is point contact in a logical sense because although theheat insulation member 3 b is actually in surface contact, the area ofthe contact with the outer wall surface Wa is significantly smaller thanthe area of the plate member 2. Therefore, the exterior heat insulationcover panel 1 can be said to be attached to the exterior wall W in apoint contact manner.

Multiple exterior heat insulation cover panels 1 each having theabove-described configuration are installed side by side (in an verticalarrangement in this embodiment; a horizontal or oblique arrangement ispossible as well) on the outer wall surface Wa of the building exteriorwall W. In this case, the plate member 2 of each exterior heatinsulation cover panel 1 is supported on the outer wall surface Wa ofthe building exterior wall W in the point contact manner by thesupporter 3 while separated from the outer wall surface Wa of thebuilding exterior wall W by a separation distance D (see FIG. 3) . Aheat insulation air layer A is formed between the plate member 2 and theouter wall surface Wa so that convecting air F (see FIG. 1) can flowtherethrough. In this way, it is possible to prevent heat S of midsummersunlight, midwinter wind, rain, and snow, etc. from having a directimpact on the building exterior wall W.

Although the outer surface portion 2 a of the plate member 2 is in astepped shape in this embodiment, the present invention is not limitedto this configuration. The outer surface portion 2 a of the plate member2 may be in a flat shape with no step. Moreover, although thisembodiment has shown the example where the attachment surface portion 2c of the plate member 2 protrudes outward from its side surface portion2 b, the present invention is not limited to this example. Theattachment surface portion 2 c of the plate member 2 may be formed toprotrude inward from its side surface portion 2 b. In this case, theconnecting fitting 3 c should be arranged on the surface of theattachment surface portion 2 c on the same side as the heat insulationmember 3 b, and sandwiched and fixed between the attachment surfaceportion 2 c and the heat insulation member 3 b. Moreover, although thesupporter 3 is provided only at one spot on one plate member 2 in a planview in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to thisconfiguration. The supporter 3 may be provided on both side surfaceportions 2 b of the plate member 2. Furthermore, configurations otherthan the plate member 2 are not limited to this embodiment, and theconfigurations are only required to be capable of realizing pointcontact.

According to this embodiment, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1is point supported (point contact) on the building outer wall surfaceWa, thus making it possible to prevent midsummer sunlight, midwinterwind, rain, and snow, etc. from having a direct impact on the buildingexterior wall W. Accordingly, the heat shielding and exterior heatinsulation performance of the building can be improved greatly. Forexample, room cooling and heating effect can be improved.

According to this embodiment, the installing surface (outer wall surfaceWa) to which to attach the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1 doesnot have to be an accurately finished surface. Thus, attaching theexterior heat insulation cover panel 1 does not require surfacepreparation such as plastering involved in general exterior finishingwork. Accordingly, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1 can beeasily attached to its installing surface, the cost of the attachmentwork is inexpensive, and the work period can be shortened as well.

According to this embodiment, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1can be attached directly to an outer wall surface Wa on whichconventional finishing work such for example as tiling has been done,and can therefore be applied to buildings already constructed. Thus, theexterior heat insulation cover panel 1 has a very wide range ofapplication.

Second Embodiment

An exterior heat insulation cover panel 1A according to a secondembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 4. Configurations similar to those in the first embodiment will bedenoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will beomitted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a set of exterior heatinsulation cover panels 1A according to the second embodiment attachedto the outer wall surface Wa of the building exterior wall W. Theexterior heat insulation cover panel 1A differs from the exterior heatinsulation cover panel 1 of the first embodiment only in that theexterior heat insulation cover panel 1A includes a heat insulationmaterial 10. Besides this, they are the same.

As shown in FIG. 4, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1A includesthe heat insulation material 10 which is brought into contact with andattached to the outer wall surface Wa before the plate member 2 isattached to the exterior wall W. As shown in FIG. 4, the heat insulationmaterial 10 is provided in such a way as to cover the entire outer wallsurface Wa to which the plate member 2 and the supporter 3 are notattached. The heat insulation material 10 is produced into a given shapein a factory, for example.

According to this embodiment, advantageous effects similar to those bythe first embodiment can be achieved. At the same time, since includingthe heat insulation material 10 to be attached to the outer wall surfaceWa, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1A can more greatly improvethe heat shielding and exterior heat insulation performance of thebuilding.

Third Embodiment

An exterior heat insulation cover panel 1B according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 5. Configurations similar to those in the first embodiment will bedenoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will beomitted. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a set of exterior heatinsulation cover panels 1B according to the third embodiment attached tothe outer wall surface Wa of the building exterior wall W. The exteriorheat insulation cover panel 1B differs from the exterior heat insulationcover panel 1 of the first embodiment only in that the exterior heatinsulation cover panel 1B includes a heat insulation material 11.Besides this, they are the same.

As shown in FIG. 5, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1B includesthe heat insulation material 11 which is brought into contact with andattached to the back surface portion 2 d of the plate member 2 beforethe plate member 2 is attached to the exterior wall W. As shown in FIG.5, the heat insulation material 11 is provided in such a way as to coveralmost the entire surface of the back surface portion 2 d of the platemember 2. The heat insulation material 11 is produced into a given shapein a factory, for example. The heat insulation material 11 may beattached to the plate member 2 in advance at the factory or in situ.

According to this embodiment, advantageous effects similar to those bythe first embodiment can be achieved. At the same time, since includingthe heat insulation material 11 to be attached to the back surfaceportion 2 d of the plate member 2, the exterior heat insulation coverpanel 1B can more greatly improve the heat shielding and exterior heatinsulation performance of the building.

Fourth Embodiment

An exterior heat insulation cover panel 1C according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 6. Configurations similar to those in the first embodiment will bedenoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will beomitted. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a set of exterior heatinsulation cover panels 1C according to the fourth embodiment attachedto the outer wall surface Wa of the building exterior wall W. Theexterior heat insulation cover panel 1C differs from the exterior heatinsulation cover panel 1 of the first embodiment only in that theexterior heat insulation cover panel 1C includes a heat insulationmaterial 12. Besides this, they are the same.

As shown in FIG. 6, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1C includesthe heat insulation material 12 which is adhered to the back surfaceportion 2 d of the plate member 2 and the outer wall surface Wa afterthe plate member 2 is attached to the exterior wall W. As shown in FIG.6, the heat insulation material 12 is adhered in such a way as to coverthe entire surface of the back surface portion 2 d of the plate member 2and the entire outer wall surface Wa. The heat insulation material 12 isa foamed in-situ heat insulation material, for example.

According to this embodiment, advantageous effects similar to those bythe first embodiment can be achieved. At the same time, since includingthe heat insulation material 12 to be adhered to the entire surface ofthe back surface portion 2 d of the plate member 2 and the entire outerwall surface Wa, the exterior heat insulation cover panel 1B can moregreatly improve the heat shielding and exterior heat insulationperformance of the building.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been describedhereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the aboveembodiments but various medications are possible.

The entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-191671 (fileddate: Sep. 2, 2011) is incorporated herein.

1. An exterior heat insulation cover panel, comprising: a plate memberinstalled on an outer wall surface of an exterior wall of a building toform a heat insulation air layer between the plate member and the outerwall surface; and a supporter configured to support the plate member onthe outer wall surface in a point contact manner.
 2. The exterior heatinsulation cover panel according to claim 1, wherein the supporterincludes a heat insulation member disposed between the plate member andthe outer wall surface and configured to suppress heat transfer betweenthe plate member and the exterior wall.
 3. The exterior heat insulationcover panel according to claim 1, wherein the supporter includes one ofa screw or a nail to be fixed at one end to the exterior wall.
 4. Theexterior heat insulation cover panel according to claim 1, wherein thesupporter includes: a heat insulation member having a ring-shape andmade of resin, the heat insulation member being sandwiched between theplate member and the outer wall surface and configured to suppress heattransfer between the plate member and the exterior wall; and one of ascrew or a nail to be fixed at one end to the exterior wall while beinginserted in an opening of the heat insulation member.
 5. The exteriorheat insulation cover panel according to claim 1, wherein the platemember includes an attachment surface portion facing the outer wallsurface and having a through-hole, and wherein the supporter includes aheat insulation member having a ring-shape and made of resin, the heatinsulation member being sandwiched between the attachment surfaceportion and the outer wall surface and configured to suppress heattransfer between the plate member and the exterior wall, and one of ascrew or a nail to be fixed at one end to the exterior wall while beinginserted in the through-hole of the attachment surface portion and anopening of the heat insulation member.
 6. The exterior heat insulationcover panel according to claim 1, wherein the supporter is provided ononly one of opposite side surface portions of the plate member.
 7. Theexterior heat insulation cover panel according to claim 1, wherein aplurality of the plate members are disposed side by side, and whereinthe supporter includes a connecting fitting configured to, with a sidesurface portion of a first plate member of the plate members,elastically clamp a side surface portion of a second plate member of theplate members disposed adjacent to the first plate member, to connectthe second plate member to the first plate member.
 8. The exterior heatinsulation cover panel according to claim 1, further comprising a heatinsulation material disposed between the plate member and the outer wallsurface.
 9. The exterior heat insulation cover panel according to claim8, wherein the heat insulation material is provided in contact with theouter wall surface to cover the outer wall surface.
 10. The exteriorheat insulation cover panel according to claim 8, wherein the heatinsulation material is provided in contact with the plate member tocover a surface of the plate member at a side of the outer wall surface.11. The exterior heat insulation cover panel according to claim 8,wherein the heat insulation material is adhered to the outer wallsurface and the plate member to cover the outer wall surface and asurface of the plate member at a side of the outer wall surface.
 12. Theexterior heat insulation cover panel according to claim 11, wherein theheat insulation material is a foamed in-situ heat insulation material.